Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from Tennessee, as well as leaders on both sides. This effort has been truly bipartisan. It is a profoundly significant beginning but only a first step. It needs to be followed by others because we know that this epidemic truly is national. I especially thank my colleague from West Virginia who will follow me, Senator Manchin, for his tireless, relentless efforts on this issue. I have been very proud to work with him and to begin working on it when I was attorney general of the State of Connecticut in suing the painkiller manufacturers and taking action against the sellers of prescription opioids, to make sure they are held accountable. The communities need our help. We promised action, and we are now delivering, in part, on this issue, which has been so devastating and deadly for so many families, communities, States, and towns throughout Connecticut and our Nation. The calls for action tonight are answered in this beginning step with money that will go to treatment, prevention, and law enforcement. That money is a good first step, but it must be followed by additional investments and commitment. This measure increases the number of drug take-back programs. I visited communities, most recently East Hartford in Greenwich, where these take-back programs have provided an anonymous, secure way to rid medicine cabinets of drugs that all too often can be a menace.…”